Batch meter



Oct. 20; 1931-. s. SHAFER, JR, ET AL BATCH METER s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1927 s. 'SHAFER, JR., ET AL BATCH METER Filed Aug. 2'. 192 IS-Sheets-Shqt 2 gvvventow:

I attozweq.

Oct. 20, 1931. s. SHAFER. ;J,R.. ET AL.

BATCH METER Fi ed Aug. 2. 1927 5- j- 3 SheetsSheet 3 0 ETA,

' amm Rammed-e. 2c, 1931 T sAMUEL 'zziiiF nnifin iinib cn'ARLns F,BALI;6F mxriweiixinnWxscdnsm,AssIGlioRs. COMPANY, (JR-MILWAUKEE, WISQONSIlV, A comqonA'e oig 'QE fWIS- m0 CHAIN BELT "consrn BATCH-METER i557 ii i i .i si. flisiei ie-i iee 01 111 inventicn mite toi mechanism for, timing industrial" Operations" Dev ces of this character have come to be known to tne trade is batch Ineteis, perticu'la'i'lynrhen they 5 have been. deyisedwithreference to, being used in connection with concrete-mixing and similar inn chines, "to; the iniienticn here presented-is especially adepted though e it'is notiimited to suchlnse... H

In the accompanying"draw ngs:

g- 1 is a mvewt a b h ew-"fem bcdying 'oni' 'inyentiom the f ght piateef;

n e 'm: 5' 1591 the casingin which the pdi-ted beingjreinovedh" 1 i Fig.2 is etop plztn viewfcf'the'mechgtnlsm the c n bein i -secti 'n s WW W Fig. 4e detal lfsecti segnientbfthe parzitus.

Fig. 6 1s ediagiannnatic ilius'tr' of the 'machineffwhcfse 'eperz 'tions arevbeing p H 2.: l 'ep ip yo disk 16 is formed a recess 31 in WhiCh-HGS theouter or toe end of the paw1"15,' such recess forming'a'n abut I arrangement of "the parts enclosed; The

e v firont'p'iete of the casing is reinci able andis preferably formed With an Opening of'rela finely-large size into Whichis set glassrzoii other transparent plate 4, permitting the mechanisnito be seen Without;--I1QCESSitLtiHg the opening-0f the cas ng. The hackjplztteifi f is likewise .i'eino'i able and caij iesflthejp ina cipal parts of' the apparat is is-viiorn ed With anintegral'hcllow pro] ecti n 6, in wh ch asha s i is s uppe rted the beefing fie y a'second lntegra-l pro ec t 7 1n Which i 5 isi we? l j ihf b d df; wheel shown in Figfli the yield ngtocthj nctesthe casing in which the' mechinisin, ojf' i' e ted'ai se nd f 1 t ir fpi-0-i i' i .2 in "whi h i supi r' dfi 'fii bf il il yhclio shaft" 16 i, the two projections first source of powennot represented in th i'dieai i ings, This scnrce'cf power may be any suit ebie shaft of the apparatus to which the bat'eh meter is z ppiiedythat is in constant revolutien Whenever thegapparatus or machine Whose noy'eine'nts, are to be timed by the V v pinion. 11 is secured V fast'tc the inner drives Wheel 1 2, Whichis 'lqosely slippq'i'ted' Toffth'e' bute'rlend Of thie' haft 13 is secured" ell-def thshaft' s; andithisrneshesfwith and u'pnnlanenlarged bearing 30 of the-ishz'ift"13.''

a -'co11ar 14 th t bears against the outer end- "lcc'eted clesetftp and parallel with the inner faceo'fithe rear plate 5j;e,and;the lw heel p g carries a pawl 15 on its inneiface. mg; thef'batch meter designed to opeiatefi ,esenf element in 'nieitns for the; entoiilatic' l'c'dnti oi '16 is a diskyagainstionefacefof' 'which rests tegmi With the shaft l3; 'afn d somewhat larger .of the i integmlfprcjectionf'f. Thepini'cn'l l i i and 1168112 are inside. the casing 2 and'pref-l indialneter' than "the bearing 30 for' the Wheel" I V 'mentagainstv which the pawl bears. This a r-Qf i a'ngement insures that the disk Will beturned "v Wheneverthe heel 12 is rotated in the dire'c-v tion of theai'rOW "a in Fig. 1, but Will not be.

turned if the direction of riota'tion of the Wheel be: reversed, since the pa'wlis springheld', and supported so that,- when the Wheelie n ove dfinja reye se direction, the pawlfrijde's' over the idisk'ywith'ol'lt {im n t ni T thereto;

'17 indicates an eccentriczilly cdisp osedflpin carried by'thedisk 16.

I The "Inecheni'sm thus far described 7 con-e 1 s *stitute's a gear train through which the batch? 1 'i'neteris driven'frofn"a shaft or other source. 7035 powei forming a pa rtjofiror closely asse .T --ci:ited with, the apparatus Whose OP QIiHitiOIIS df are't be timed 18 indicates a tii'ning wheel, 7 p thatfis loeselyjjsupported 111 0 1121 jhOllowQtnbei or shaft 64 that is stationai ilysuppcrted in 3 V the bearing 43, where is held securely by the nut 66, this wheelbeing incorporated into the gear train just referred to. The portion of-the hollow-tube 6 1, justinside the; end of the bearing 43, is enlarged, as indicated at 65, to constitute a bearing for the. wheel '18 on I whichitis free to turn. ,The wheel 18 is formed with a series of peripheral teeth 19,

the uniform succession of which is broken at a point in the circumference of the Wheel a; form a}. dwell or open s'p'ace between the teeth, and in which spa-cethe pin 17 moves such space.

will be understeod that the pin 1 7,wh ich, injefiect', is a one-tooth driving wheel, engages successively with the. teeth 19 of the timing wheel 18 and so turnsit, as will he presently herein more fully described. 7

j The'toojtl f2l, at the forwardend of the dwell" or space 20, is yielding radially, but

tioular'lyto Figs. 4 andfh, it will beiseen that there-is fo'rmedi n the body 01 the rwheel 18 a recess 22, in which the, sterner-shank or the,

r tooth 21Lisinsertedif QS liesin this recessh'ehiiid thetoe'th'jand tends to force the latter date -1x111; The stem of the tooth is l ZEOflIlG Cl Wibli an enlarged portionfi iover.

which lies ai plate 25, held inplace 'a-screw 26,,fanjd serving tofreta'in the tooth inproper I working" posit on, that is tprevents its movtioinbut permits it"to moveinwardly, coinoutward beyond 'a' certain limited posi pressing the spring 23..

YVhenever the afctive,,the pin17-lies int-he dwell or space 20, rotating if thfmachine whose operations are being timed" is in motion. It, however, imparts no motion tothe wheel 18,fa'nd the v batch meter isftherefore at rest. When, w: ever, the hatch meter is to be startechthewheel 1'8'is advanced sufficiently "far to cause the pin to engage with the tooth '21, thus starting the revolutiono'fthe wheel 18. The means for 1 giving this advance movement to the wheel will be later described. Should the positionvoi 'thedriving 17 be such, at the,

instant the wheel is advanced, that thefextrerne 1o'uter, end of the tooth 21 is directly injifts path' hence is engaged thereby, no

3 injury to the apparatus will oc cur'as might be the case were the tooth 21 rigid in a'radial -direction--but rather the tooth will yield permitting the wheel 18 to be movedto correct, position and allowing the pin 17 to passand properly engagewith thetooth on itsnextf' v I p e 7 described be us'ed'in *c onnectionjwi'th a concrete-mixing machinethe link 42 may con nect with the hand'flever that .controlsz the J movements of the -loading skip; or with the... 1'3

revolution.

the apparatus. Other indicating means might be employed in of the hut batch meter isat rest r "in sincesuch indicating device is that commonly employed upon a batch meter for concrete mixing machines we havechosen it as typical of any 'indicating meansv that might be selected. v

28 is aspring-operated,plunger extending from the bell andinto the casing 2. When moved outwardly it servestocause the bell to be rung. lever 29,'suitably supported upon a bearing 37 projecting from -a-wal l of the T casing, bears upon the end 01 the bell-striking the for'niof a nut on a screw-threaded stem,

that is iset to a position that will hold the leverin engagement with. the end of the plunger when thelatter is in. projected or normal position. .The lever 29. carries a con tact projection, preferably in the form of a free-turning rollers ,33, with which engages a block 34 secured to the timing wheel 18.

The pa th of movement of the block 34is such that at each revolution it engages with the rigidin the other directions. Referring par contact roller, 33, moving the lever .29 and causing asou-nding of the bell.

- There,are a plurality of screw-threaded;

arranged. in a concentric series, permitting shaped to engage with a shouldereigcarried by the wheel18. This arrangement permits the block tobe firmly-seated and held in working position by the use of a single connecting'sc r'ew In ordertoprevent a ret- I rograde turningiof the wheel 18 we employ a. pair off pivoted spring-actuated 1 locking dogs 38, engaging withthe teeth'oi'the wheel.

:39 is ashaft extending through the hollow tube 64, and carrying at its outer end an arm 40, that is .actedupon .by aspring .41; tending to move'the arm in the. direction of .the arrow I), Figgii. To the inner end oflthe shaft 39is securedan arm 45 carrying a pawl 46 acted upon by a spring 47. The pawl is adapted to engage witha pin orprojection 48 carriedby the whee/L18. Suitable stops 49., are providedto the movements of the arm t5; l.

42 orother means for moving it andthrougn For instance, should the each meter being hand'lever that controls the .deli'veryof water holes .36to'receive .a screw 35 that unites the block'Bitothe wheel l8. [These holes are Toithe outside arm is connected a link A I which it is applied, he first causes the arm or lever 40 at the outer end of the shaft/3,9 to

'tothe mixing drum, or with the br'akelever be moved in the opposite direction to thatindicated by the arrow Z2.- 'This imparts a short rotative movement to'the arm 45 at the inner end of theshaft 39, such'movement be .f

mg limited bya stop'49, and, as the arm 45 moves, it causes the pawl 46 to engage'with the projection 48, thus turning the wheel 18 in the direction of the arrow 0, Fig. 1, sufiiciently'far to move the yielding tooth 21 of thewheel into position to be engaged by the rotating driving pin 17, which, as has been explainethis in constant revolution, whether operatingthe batch meter or not. The batch meter thus' being startedin'; its movements will operate for a certain lengthof time, determined by the number of teeth engaged by the driving 'pin, before thebell is rung. As

- the .wheel- 18 is turned the projection 48 moves i it the block 34, and when this comes into enwill beyond the action-ofthe pawl 46, which latter is restored to its normal position, either man-. uallyor through the operation ofthe spring 41. "As thefwheel 18 revolves it carrieswith gagement with the contact projection of theilever29,,it moves the latter and causes the ringing of the bell. Shortly thereafter the wheel 18 completes its revolution, the

space 20 between the teeth coming opposite the driving pin 17 whereupon the connect on with the-source of power isbrokenand the batch meterlcomesto rest. As has been described, the block 34 isadjustable. tjbe shifted from the position shown n Fig.1 to the right, the wheel 18 wil l turn through a greater are before the block engages with, the contact roller 33 than it does whenoc cupyingthe position shown in Fig. 1; while if it be moved tothe left, the arc will be shortened and the length of time elapsingbe tween the starting of the batch meterand the ringing of the bell willbe reduced. designing a" batch meter for a concrete m xing machine we may providethe'wheel 18' with 86 teeth,less one removed to provide the dwell 20, 2111Cl arrange the driving mechanism so that the pin 17 will move at a speed to cause a movement of the wheel "18 equal to the distance between adjacent teeth 19, each two; seconds. By arrangin'g' the holes 36 for the screw 35 thatsecures' the block 34 to the timing wheela distance apart equal to the distance between teeth, theshifting'otthe blocl; by adjusting the pin fromonehole to the next vary the timingtoperations two seconds; It will beseen that theadvance movement -,the position tobe engaged by the revolving pin 17, is :in the normal plane of movement of the wheclyand also that the means em:

ployed for imparting such advance movement i to the wheel are, of such character thatthe movement given'the wheel by the pawl 46 is only suificient to cause the tooth 21 to advanced top'roper'position'to beengagedat Y the next following revolution of the pin 17,

' and that, as soon asthis operation has taken P 'place and the wheel 118 advanced one. step,

the projection48 with whicli-thepawl .46 engages has movedbeyondthe limit of travel} of such pawl and the wheel cannot there after he further moved through" its manually controlled advancing mechanism, until it'has completed its revolution.

I In Patent Number-1,608,831, toCharles F; I

'Ball, assignor to Chain Belt Company, there is described and claimed a method of control-;

ling. the power employedfltodrivea concretemixing apparatus, from or through a batch} meter, the principle of operationtherein de-g; SCIllOQClbGlIlg' tocontrol an electric circuit so as to cut off the source of power operating the mixing apparatus should attempt, be made to discharge, the batch of concrete being mixed from the drum during the timing operation; a

The batch meterherein described and 'il- 5 lustratedis adapted to operate according' to the principle or method of operation described in the said Ball-patent, and we will now describe the means by which this may.

accomplished, reference being'made' particu larlyito Fig. 6. In that view' 50 designates a casing in which are mounted certain electric circuit-controlling means that are associated Wltll a vfpart of the apparatus whose operations are being timed," for instance the 1nechanism that controls the discharge-'ofrthe prodnot of the apparatus after it has been acted upon for theadesired length of time. flVhen the apparatus controlled is a concrete-mixing machine, the arrangement might be such as shownin Fig. 6, where 69. indicatesa shaft on which is supported a circuit-closing part 51, and'froma-which is also'supported the disioo charge chute 67 of the concrete-mixing ma-' chine, andto which is attached ahandle 68 for manually controlling the discharge chute. Still referringto Fig. 6, '54 designates a magneto constituting part-of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine em-v ployed to drive the apparatus being timedl Such magneto is connectedinto an electric circuit 53 of which indicates a groundcom I nectionfor the magneto controlled by a man c.

Ian

ually operated switch. The circuit thus far described may be traced as follows: from-the, magneto tothe contact 51 within the x50, -;to-brush 52, adapted to bear upon the contact 51, and over the line ,53 to the batchineter. where the circuit isgrounded. I The'pz' rtsof the electric circuit locatediwithinthe casing Qbf the batch meter we will nowi'dcscribe,

5 6 designates a" disk of conducting material supported by the stationary hollow tube 645 but insulated therefromas f indicated; at '57,

57, A section otthis'disl: is cutaway, as indicated at-(il '58 indicates a contact roller, in electric circuit with the grounded-casing 2, adapted to bear upon the peripheral edge I of the'disl; 56. Thisconta'ct roller is carried 'circuitfat this: point. p p the apparatus requires that the discharge chute shall'be in theposition indicated in Fig. 6tha t is in non-discharging position-+ by a'spring 59, and a convenient support for such spring'is "the block 34C The insiilated conducting disk '56 is "in connection with ciirci'iit'wire 53, leading tofthecircuit breaker in thebox 5O tliroi' gh an insulated conductor Gill-shown in Fig; 1. It will thus beseen that the'circuiic 53 has in it two breaks, both of which must be closed in "order to ground the magneto 54, but which When the apparatus'isf-unctioning properly, will not be closed at the "sameftime. 'Oheoi'tliese breaks is at'the' hatch meter, and the other is within the casing 50, and considering the invention-as applied to" a concrete mixer, whenever the discharge chiit'e 67 is in the position shown inFig, '(i that is'its non-discharging position the circuit at 51, 52 is broken.-' Very shortly after the batch meter has started inits cycle ofmovements the'coiitact 58 comes into engagement'withthedisk 56 andclosesfthe Proper operation of iirheneve'r-tlie batch meter is in operation:

Should,fho\vever, through accident or with iraudiilent intent to discharge abatchbf concrete befor'eit has been mixed for the full time, ai'i operator slii ft'tlie handle 68 to move the'dischargechiite into delivery position, the circuit will be 'closed'at 51, 52', aiiclsin'ce the circuit isnow" also c losed at :56, 58," the batch meter not {having completed*its ti'ming op-' eration, the circuit 53 will be completed so that'the magneto isgrounded, and the op eration of the motor driving the apparatiis being timed Willatonee be arrested; flhus,

While there is no' mechanical device'for pi-etia'c t roller '58 ivillileave; the conducting disk v 56 at practically'the same i stant that the-bell The cut-awe venting the operation of the discharge chute at any time, the penalty, which will be auto niatically and instantly inflicted, by the stopping of the entire apparatus, Willmake itjthe part of wisdom fora-noperator to'wait until the signal has been given on the bell 27- before moving the lever (SSto deliverthe product of the machine.

adjustment permitted to the block 314, and

these two parts are arranged oppositejeach other. Iti's important that'one term us of the cut-away portion of the disk be opposite" the roller 33, exit such position that the conis Ifl'lilgftlltlS permitting; the' operator 0 at" once throy'vthe diseharge lever "on getting 'portion the V disk 536 is practically co-extensive With-the extent of the-signal iror n the batch nieter; l After the contact 5 8 leavesthedisk, at 61, its movement is continued, through the further turii'ing o't the'wheel 18," so as to'insure acomparatively Wide separation between parts56 and 58.

The batch ine'ter h'ere illustrated is representedasbei-ng provided With a'coiintiiig device 62 for registering the operations of the a p paratiis'to Which the meter is applied; It may be operated from any suitable partot the apparatus, as for instance from' the sig- 'ial-controlling lever-'29, Whichit can: nected by ,a -link"63,:see dotted line showing,

Figil. What We claim is {1; Inafbatch' meter the combination of means adapted to: operate a signal, gearing forfopera ting such means, including a con member and an stantly moving driving gear intermittently "lIlVEll gear member, engag mg one withthe'other, the intermittently driven member being an 'ii'iterriipted gear,

an cl' ineans for advancing -thefdriven gear member, in its normal path of inoven ient, from its position oiirest sufficiently to bring the said-gearsinto;engaging relationship. 1

"2i In ajbato-h meter the combination ol 7 v 3 P p means adapted to operate signal,- toothed ffor operating such ineans, including a constantly moving,- dri'v ng gear member and" antintermittently ,driven gear Vmemb er,

interineshing one With the other; the interinittently driven 'g eai" menib'er bei'ng an inter rupted gear andgthe gear tooth thereof next adjacent is "interri ption'- being yielding,

and meangro advancing the driven gear member, in fits-normal path "of movement, from ltS'pOSl ionofrest si fiiciently to i said gears into jintermeshing relationship.

in a meter, the-combination of means adaptedtooperate a signal, toothed gearing for op-e'ratin'g siich means, including a constantly moving, driving gear member and I an intermitt-ently driven gear member,

intermeshing'one with the other,*the inter mittently; driven gear ineniber being 7 an interrupted gear'and the gear tooth thereof next acent to the interruption being yielding' in aradialdirection bllil' otherwise rigid,

and means for adva-noing'tliedriven gear i131 'meinber, in its, normal path-of'movement' intermittentlydriven gear member, engaging one With the other, theintermittently driven member being an llltefilipiiecl' -gear, the

irection,"and-"means: for advancing the driven gear member, inits normal path of movement, fr'onrits position of rest suflioi'ent- 1 ran 1,11

' driving n emher 'constriieted' toj' turn the dr ve geaij member only'when revolving in ewe-Q19 ly to bring the said gears into engaging relationship. w

5. In a means adapted to operate a signal, toothed such means, including a constantly moving, driving gear member and an intermittently driven gear member, intermeshing one with the other, the intermittently driven gear member beingan interrupted gear, and means for advancing the driven gear member, in its normal'pathof gearing for operating movement, from its position of rest only sufli- I wheel and engaged by rotating projection,

ciently to bring thegears into intermeshing relationship, and then, being out of operative relationship therewith until the driven gear 5 completes its cycle of movement.

'6. In a batch meter the combination eta toothed wheel having one of its teeth omitted to form an interruption or dwell, driving gearing for the toothed wheel, including a rotating projection adapted to engage with the teeth of the wheel and to revolve in the interrupted portion of the wheel when that part is moved opposite the said projection, means adapted to operate a manually controlled for advancing the toothed wheel from its position of rest to bring it into position to be engagedby the projection of the drivinggearing. I,

7. In a batch meter the combination of a toothed wheel having one of its teeth omitted to form an interruption or dwell and the'fi'rst,

tooth beyond the dwell being yielding in a radial direction but otherwise rigid, driving gearing for the toothed wheel, including a adapted to engage with the teeth of the wheel and to revolve in the interrupted portion of the wheel when that part is moved opposite the said projection, and a ratchet drivingmember for therotating projection that causes it to turn in one-direc,

tion only, means adapted to operate a signal from the toothed wheel as it revolves, and

means adapted to be manually controlled for advancing the toothed wheel from its position of rest to bring it into position to be engaged by the projection of the driving gearmg. i a 1 i 8. In a batch meter the combination of a toothed Wheel with one of its teeth omitted to form a dwell, driving gearing for turning the wheel having apart to engage the teeth thereof to turn the wheeland adapted to revolve in the dwell of the wheel without imparting motion thereto, and means for advancing the wheel from a position of rest sufficiently to bring the wheel into including an arm pivotally supported adjacent to, the face of the wheel, a pawl carried by the arm, a projection extending'from the the pawl when the wheel is in its position of rest and means for turning the arm at will. I

batch meter, the combination of idvank'zethetoothed 'wheelonly suficiently to signal from the toothed Wheel as it revolves, and means adapted to be bring it intof-position to bedrivenr- 15 10,-"The comb'nation 'stated' in jclaim where; thearm {0' arrylng. the pawl is pivotal? "supported concentric with the toothed wheel? 11; In ,jabatch meter, an intermittently driven timingwheel, a constantly; moving "means for driving the said wheel, means for :a isin'g "interengagement between the said fi iri an o ttent movements of the timing wheel, a operati g-imam, and'a contact block signal position to another upon the wheel and the wheel'is provided with a shoulder againstwhich the contact to the Wheel. o a 1 13. The combination stated in claim 11 where the contact block is adjustable'from one positionto'another upon the wheel to acmate the signal-operating means after a greater or less period of elapsed time.

14. In a batch meter, an intermittently block rests when secured means for driving the'timing wheel, means for causing mterengagement between the driving and the driven parts to cause interwheel, and means 15. Ina batch meter the combination of a revolving timing wheel, driving gearing for L intermittently moving the timing wheel, means for controlling the intermittent moveif '9: The combination, stated a 51am; 8 i i-v carried byth'e timing wheel actuatingt he driven parts to cause the'interdriven timingv wheel, constantly moving ments of the timing wheel at will, a plunger,

a lever bearing upon the plunger, a contact block carried by the timing wheel and arthe lever'and cause the ranged to act upon plunger to be moved as the contact block is moved past the lever, and an adjustable stop against which the lever bears vfor maintaining it in engagement with the plunger.

16. In a batch meter the combination of a toothed timing wheel one of the teeth of which is omitted to forma dwell, driving I gearing for intermittently turning the wheel having a member engaging with theteeth f thereof and adapted to turn in the dwell without imparting motion to the timing with the driving member at will, means for position to wheel, means for causing movement of the be turned by the driving gearing, such means 7 operating a signal and a block for actuating I the signal-operating means, the block being adjustable so as to act on the signal-operating means at a sooner or later-period after the 13C starting of the timing wheel, the position of 7 side fthe casingtto putthetim ing Wheelinto cooperative 7 relationship with the driving fore;,the driving part of the gearing eeme s 1 into the dwell of the tim mgjwheelt be dri ven from a pal-tofthe apparatus to -.Whieh the. batch meter may be applied, means adaptedto be operated at Will from the Outgearing, means for operating afsi gnal and means operated from. ,the. intermittently dniven wheel for actuating the signal operating means. V e e I SAMUEL AFER, JR.

V QHALRLE P BAELM t L 17?, In a batteh. meter theeombinetionwith n ;V e115; eneasedcounting WheeLgeaeing forinter- 'mittently driving the counting wheelhawi ng a part located outside thecasing arranged; to e 

